paigoomein

I am considering tinting the front driver/passenger windows with ceramic tint (I've heard of Huper Optik and FormulaOne Pinnacle) for the MDX (2015), but I recall reading somewhere that the windows that come pre-tinted may just be a color tint and does not offer any heat-rejection--does anyone know if this is true or not? If that is really the case, for those who tinted their windows, did you have all windows done?

Also came across a tint from Llumar called AirBlue--supposed to offer the heat-rejection benefits without a significant reduction in light transmission--does anyone know much about this tint?

Any help/advice would be much appreciated.

pickettt

You've named a few good ones, and there's another from 3M called Crystalline. One difference is the colors available. I think 3M has one of the "clearest". I have the 3M product and it REALLY keeps the heat out. It's my understanding that all of the brands you've named are equally good at cutting the heat. They are all expensive too. Worth it? I live in Southern California, so yes.

sumoroach

Having blue air clear tint install tomorrow 11 APR Total cost 667 for front, sides, back and moonroof.

jchoi5

I am getting my front windows tinted and gonna do ctx ceramic by llumar for the windshield. I heard it's better than 3M crystalline

KxK

I don't know if the rear windows offer any heat/uv rejection.

Im personally getting all windows tinted because on my 2nd gen i just got the fronts to match the factory rears - it wasn't nearly dark enough. In addition I'm moving back to Texas this summer.

Good grief! I was quoted 390 for; sides front/back, rear and windshield. I'll probably add on moonroof now that you mention it. I hadn't even thought of it before.

paigoomein

I emailed Acura to inquire as to what heat rejection/uv properties the factory tint provides. I am assuming it's just color for privacy but wanted to confirm--haven't heard back yet.

Your quote of 390 for front/back/rear/windshield--is that for the Llumar Air 80? I assume that's also including those two little triangluar panes behind the 2nd-row? Would you mind sharing where you got that quote?

I did see some folks indicating night-time issues with these tints installed on the windshield. For those who did get them installed, are you seeing anything like what was described below? I'm hoping those issues are just due to poor installs.

Don't put film / tint on your front windshield. - AnandTech Forums

KxK

That is for Suntek CXP. The huper optik was a bit more. However I have that Suntek film on my Lexus and I've never had an issue.

I had my last mdx and my Lexus windshield done with out any issues. The first time I had it done I felt like it might look different. But it's really not an issue. I didn't notice it after a day or two. They are both done at 30% I believe.

paigoomein

I started to contact some tint shops to get quotes. One shop had some information that I think may be useful for those interested. They mentioned that for the moonroof, they would not recommend going with a ceramic tint, but rather, a metallic tint. They said that this was a safety issue based on the angle of the glass in relation to the sun and how ceramic tints tend to absorb more heat into the glass versus metallic tints which reflect heat.

Only one shop has said this though--others seem to have no issues with using ceramic tint on the moonroof.

NelsonLee

I put FormulaOne 30% on mine:

paigoomein

love the look of tinted windows on a white vehicle.



some quotes I have received:

FormulaOne Pinnacle
All windows (except windshield and sunroof): $500
Windshield: $200
Sunroof: $80

Huper Optik Ceramic
All windows (except windshield and sunroof): $545
Windshield: no quote yet
Sunroof: no quote yet

Suntek CXP
All windows (except windshield and sunroof): $325
Windshield: $225
Sunroof: $75

3M Crystalline
All windows (except windshield and sunroof): $775
Windshield: $350
Sunroof: $100

Llumar CTX
All windows (except windshield and sunroof): $345
Windshield: $180
Sunroof: $65

paigoomein

Got another quote:

Madico Wincos
All windows (except windshield and sunroof): $380
Windshield: $180
Sunroof: $70

jchoi5

Here's the quote I got:

Front Driver Side and Front Passenger tinting - $100
CTX Ceramix by Llumar for the Windshield - $150

paigoomein

From reading on up others tinting their vehicles, I also came across one that I didn't hear of before--Prestige Photosync Spectra. Supposedly even better at heat rejection than ones like Huper and Formula One.

paigoomein

Info I received from Acura Client Relations.

The window glass equipped in the MDX is not actually tinted. The rear
windshield, rear quarter windows and rear door windows are privacy glass.
Privacy glass is produced by introducing colored components into raw glass
which results in a darker color, however it is not considered tinted. The
privacy glass reduces visible light, UV rays and heat which passes through
it (approximately 4 - 7% of UVA passes through.)

The front windshield is solar glass which is laminated with an inner layer
of acoustic Poly Vinyl Butyryl (PVB) which blocks sound, UV rays and heat.
This allows less than 3% of UVA rays to pass through. All the glass on the
MDX allows 0% UVB rays to penetrate which is typical for automobile glass.

nahpungnome

Thanks for the info. I'm glad I didn't have to do the rear windows. I just got ceramic 50% on my driver and passenger fronts and it only cost $100 bucks. The brand of the film is Stage.

jchoi5

Thanks for this!!! Saved me a $150 with that post.

Was gonna do a UV tint for my windshield but was hesitant because they would install it over my registration sticker. I would have to come back after 5 years (when registration expired) and they would have to cut out a hole for the old registration sticker.

The whole process seems like more than necessary. I'll most likely opt out of windshield tint and just do my front only.

paigoomein

The only reason I would still consider tinting the front windshield is for heat rejection purposes. Would probably look at something like the Llumar Air Blue 80 which wouldn't cut down on VLT too much (so night time driving is not as affected).

I have been reading on forums about the Prestige Photosync Spectra film. Seems like it's one that comes highly recommended for Tesla owners, but the specs have also raised flags for others. My concern is durability as this seems to be a newer film on the market, as well as the "transition" properties and how that would last over time. If you think that films like Huper Optik and Formula One Pinnacle are expensive, don't even look at Prestige Photosync Spectra.

dookie320

Does tinting the windshield have any impact of auto wiper feature? I am not familiar with tinting windshields so I don't know if they apply it to the interior or exterior of the glass.

pickettt

No. It was raining today and my automatic wipers worked fine. Tint goes on the inside, btw.

formerRSX-S

Looks great!

Do you have any additional pics in natural light?? I'm picking up the same color next week!

Rocket_man

This is too late for you, but I use this product to stick my stickers on my tinted windshield. Works like a charm. Just have your windshield fully tinted and use this to stick the stickers to the tint. It holds nicely, but peels off when you need to put on a new sticker.

Sticker Shield